Advice- totally off topic

Anyone ever suddenly become depressed out of no where- like can't get out of bed depressed for zero reason?

Yes.

If nothing else, atmospheric (barometric or weather) changes or jet lag can do it to you.

Something could be bothering you but not be in your conscious thoughts.

Sometimes the news can do it, like despair over the two terror attacks last week, what we may have coming, and nobody's got a plan on how to prevent it.

Or you can just wake up going, "what the hell am I doing with my life" and that kind of stuff.

Or a dream you don't remember can put you there, maybe you wake up crying or bummed with no recollection of what it was, and it's not even real.

Lots of triggers out there, too, like you've been reminded by something random of someone you loved who is now gone, and you don't realize you saw or heard something (or smelled something sometimes) that brought the sadness but not the specific association back.

I literally have not gotten out of bed all day....

Quote: Wizardofnothing

I literally have not gotten out of bed all day....

Could also be seasonal depression. I've struggled with varied degrees of depression for the majority of my life.

What do you do for it?

Actually, no, I never have.

Only illness has confined me to bed.

If your rough patch continues, seek professional assistance.

Best have someone remove any knives and guns while you're at it.

Seriously.

People overwhelmed by despair seek relief from suicide.

Quote: Wizardofnothing

What do you do for it?

Honestly, it'll vary for everyone. I find that music and writing help. Finding outlets to express what is going on or what I'm experiencing can do wonders. For me, I struggle with a sense of apathy.

I'll start to question why to bother doing anything, or why to focus on certain priorities (Work, romantic, etc), and then it spirals down. Whatever you're struggling with, it's important to not let your focus be drawn to negativity or apathy.

Outlets of non destructive nature are incredibly helpful, even if just to distract your mind until it passes.

For reference, I was drawn to self destructive measures several times before I sought help.

It's not like suicidal or anything I just have zero motivation and haven't gotten up all day, never had this before in my life

Quote: Wizardofnothing

It's not like suicidal or anything I just have zero motivation and haven't gotten up all day, never had this before in my life

Never said that you were. It could just be a lethargic feeling, or the need to be idle. If the feeling persists, or affects other aspects of your life, it could potentially be something worth looking into.

I do have a lot of personal experience with the darker sides of life, and the awful cycle it can pull you into. If you do happen to want to vent or talk to someone, you're more than welcome to PM me, or I can provide my number to text or call.

Quote: Wizardofnothing

It's not like suicidal or anything I just have zero motivation and haven't gotten up all day, never had this before in my life

If you've never felt that before, ever, I'd say you were long overdue and entitled. :)

If you want to overcome it, do your best to force yourself to get up... and do something physical and constructive. Clean the garage, for example., Continuing to mope around won't help.

I'm curious if you live in an area that gets little sunshine this time of year. Google "Seasonal Affective Disorder" (SAD).

It could be that, I travel a lot but am in the northeast right now

I'm fortunate to not suffer from depression, but a handful of folks I love sure do. I found this a few months ago, and have kept it around to help them when they need it. Maybe it will help you, too: http://eponis.tumblr.com/post/113798088670/everything-is-awful-and-im-not-okay-questions-to

The quick onset is curious. If you are fine one day and then not, perhaps a visit to a medical professional is in order. If your brain chemistry goes out of balance, it could be a physical change in your body caused by illness. The doc could also prescribe meds like Zoloft to temporarily up your mood if it is just a temporary rough paftch and not a chronic condition. Hang in there. It will get better.

Quote: Wizardofnothing

Anyone ever suddenly become depressed out of no where- like can't get out of bed depressed for zero reason?

Not since I gave myself a bad haircut.

Everything I've ever had related to listless, or down moods, goes away on its own so far.

Quote: Wizardofnothing

Anyone ever suddenly become depressed out of no where- like can't get out of bed depressed for zero reason?

I am being serious here. Not knowing much about you other than what I read here on WOV, I would guess you are internally torn by your inability to 'prove' that Kentry is a made up character. The rest of us know it as well, but just find the stories he posts humorous, and really don't let it get under our skin. I'd post more but I owe a friend a dollar and have to go to the casino, where I know of a pay phone that sometimes has a quarter in the til. If I wait long enough I can usually get four of them using different phones........

Quote: Wizardofnothing

It's not like suicidal or anything I just have zero motivation and haven't gotten up all day, never had this before in my life

If you've never had it before, see if it passes. Is there a family history of depression? If not, that is also a good sign.

If it happens again, you have to think about getting help. It's like ignoring a tumor or something.

WON, you and I aren't exactly the best of friends, but my advice to you is just spend the day relaxing in bed. Some days you just need to "power down," and just be sedentary for a day. ;)

I could be you just don't feel like getting out of bed. Good for you, stay in bed all day. Call it a win.

I hope you are feeling better.

Honestly, staying in bed all day and watching all those college football games sounds like a perfect day for me.

I've no concerns about someone saying they felt lazy and unmotivated for a short period of time, I suspect we've all felt that way.

The thing that sent off the alarm bell was the idea that he stayed in bed all day because of his mental state.

Maybe some more info would help: what did you do in bed all day?

Read?

Watch TV?

That's OK.

But it would be of concern if all day long you lay in bed essentially paralyzed by a feeling of hopelessness or despair and did nothing other than dwell on persoanal issues and obsess over same.

Thanks for the concern, I was in bed all day reading and watching tv, just unmotivated and worn out , been traveling non stop for 18 months and think I was just the weather change and the what are my next goals. Thouggts

Some things that might help:

1. Go to a tanning bed place (seriously) and get 5-10 min/day for a week. There's a physiological lack-of-sunshine that affects people with SAD. If this works, you might get one of those sunlamps available to counteract this winter-bleah problem and use it whenever you're in front of your computer (for example).

2. Go read Time magazine, or some other newsthing that writes from a perspective of a few days to a month. There's always one or more stories that makes you count your blessings. For example; you're not a Syrian refugee who got blown out of their home and livelihood by civil war and death threats. In the abstract, we're sort of numb to this. If you put yourself in the place of that dad whose toddler son drowned in the surf when he was trying to rescue his family as the boat overturned for even 1 minute, it can put you back on track with your "better than that" life.

3. Similar to 2. above, go volunteer a day at a homeless shelter, veteran's help center, or disabled center. It will both put your life into better perspective and give you a lift that you've done something for someone else. This works wonders if you've gotten too introspective and self-centered.

4. Or: Donate some money (something significant) to your favorite charity, even if you've never done that before. If you like animals more than most people, there are several good ones. If you think veterans are under-served, pick them. Whatever stirs your sense of outrage, do something positive, because when it comes to this stuff, every dollar makes a difference. You can do it anonymously so you don't get spammed for your trouble.

5. Go get some exercise. This releases endorphins that raise your spirits, and is something "good" for you. Do 10 laps around a mall or the perimeter of a casino floor if the weather's too harsh, but outside is usually better.

6. Pick up something you used to enjoy but no longer have time to do. Play the guitar or piano. Do crossword puzzles or get absorbed in a good video game.

You might try each of these in turn. Without being obsessively introspective, lightly monitor your mood, and see what gives you a lift. If anything does, schedule time to do it into your routine so you can be pro-active about not getting into the same hole again.

It could be a chemical imbalance, but if this isn't a pattern for you, and you have no family history of it, I don't think you need to go first to anti-depressant drugs. However, if you drink, I would suggest you go without for a week or two, since alcohol is a depressant, and see if that makes a difference in your mood.

All JMHO, since you asked.

Quote: Wizardofnothing

I literally have not gotten out of bed all day....

One man's trash...

I assume you're a man. I wish I knew your location. This is totally common for many, many people, especially men, especially this time of year.

If you want a diagnosis, you've come to the wrong spot. Depression (and that's what this is, even if it's acute) has a bazillion causes. Without going too in depth (because there's a word limit on posts, and this topic could go into tens of thousands), here's some things to consider...

Winter. Between DST and axis tilt, you're getting less sunlight, both time wise and strength wise. The sun is important for mental health. Some can find relief with slight but moderately regular tanning, or travel to the south. Nov - Feb is my own "homicidal season", so I plan my vacations for Jan-Feb. As soon as I set foot in St Thomas, all of the grey vanishes instantly and permanently.

Stress. This could be a million things. Your health, finances, work load (or lack thereof), family, kids, In the News, politics, whatever. If something bothers you long enough, you fall in the hole. Being happy takes work, and every day you don't work, you sink deeper. Fix what you can, while you can, or else one day you go to bed and you won't make it back out.

Nutrition. Life is balance, and when it goes, you go. If you're craving something, listen. Cravings are often a natural reaction to a lack of something. This, too, can be work. I hate water, but I force it in me every day. Salads, veggies, fruits,... I just want a steak and a pizza (often together), but I know that's not sustainable if I want to avoid the red mist.

Sleep. The surest way to the rubber room is to jack up your sleep. You need to be up in the sun, down at night, and productive in between.

I prefer to avoid medicating my way to happiness. Weed and beer might work in a pinch, and the Zolofts of the world will keep you from caring about anything, but they all have moderate to severe side effects. YOU need to find what works for you, and that means work. I know it's hard to work when you can't even get out of bed, and as this will be a trial and error process, I know how impossible accepting failure can be at this point in time. But it must be done. Physical activity is my panacea. I can be in the deepest, dankest holes in my head, but hitting the ice makes everything go away. Hiking my hometown canyons to exhaustion makes me smile again. Doing physical work helps me out. It might for you, or it might not be an option. I don't know you, and I suspect, you might not even know this part of you. But you have to know it to fix it, so you have to try.

And know that you're not alone. You're not broken (at least, not in a way that's different than every single other person), and, perhaps most importantly, it is not permanent. The sun will shine on you again for no reason at all. It's just, in the meantime, you have to make it shine. Do the work and you will find the way.

Quote: beachbumbabs

Some things that might help:

1. Go to a tanning bed place (seriously) and get 5-10 min/day for a week. There's a physiological lack-of-sunshine that affects people with SAD. If this works, you might get one of those sunlamps available to counteract this winter-bleah problem and use it whenever you're in front of your computer (for example).

I wouldn't recommend this. Regular use of a tanning bed can increase your chance of getting skin cancer - especially if you are fair skinned. The increased risk for short term use is probably minimal, but why take the chance?

Quote: AB21

I wouldn't recommend this. Regular use of a tanning bed can increase your chance of getting skin cancer - especially if you are fair skinned. The increased risk for short term use is probably minimal, but why take the chance?

Yeah, I'm not suggesting he become a regular (re: the recommendation to get the special lamp they sell that's not so destructive). For a week, he can take an intense (but safe) course and see if it makes a difference. Since he doesn't know the source of his issue, it seems like an inexpensive way to see if that's the reason.

Quote: Wizardofnothing

Anyone ever suddenly become depressed out of no where- like can't get out of bed depressed for zero reason?

Only when I run out of vodka. So I keep
plenty around to keep me cheerful.

Quote: EvenBob

Only when I run out of vodka. So I keep
plenty around to keep me cheerful.

EB I thought about you this morning when I made an omlette and realized I was out of onions.

I usually binge watch football on sunday or some other tv show

Sometimes I feel that while no anxiety catch me at all. Don't go for office or outside to gossip with other friends. Just sleep on the bed for a whole day.

Quote: djatc

I usually binge watch football on sunday or some other tv show

Sunday may be your holiday right?

Quote: Esposito

Sunday may be your holiday right?

I only work half days - get up at 7:30am head to casinos to put in bets before the game head back home to watch all the relevant games, so about 12 hours.

Depression is common and has many different manifestations and levels of severity.

Our brains have a chemical called dopamine that comes out when we're stimulated - like when we watch tv, or gamble. Sometimes, when we're not watching tv, or gambling, our brains "miss" that dopamine and we suddenly feel lethargic, drained and down.

We can't always gamble - because over time, no matter how skilled, those odds are in the houses favor. So, some turn to food, others turn to drugs, and some turn to exercise. Push ups or a brisk walk can raise those dopamine levels as well as Nutella or black jack.

The cold weather can do that to you. Also the fact that during colder times there is less time for sunlight. Say during the warm/hot spring/summer days after I hop out of a casino like the Wynn or Palazzo I would get on the Strip Downtown Express and head to Fremont and/or Premium Outlets. Love staying outdoors even at some 100 F. Yet come the cold days I struggle to even get up heading to the gym! And now after I come out of the casino say around 6pm/7pm I just want to head home.

Best advice I can say to wait out the cold depressing times is to have hobbies and join a gym and actually show up. That release of dopamine after a workout helps alot!

Quote: Wizardofnothing

Thanks for the concern, I was in bed all day reading and watching tv, just unmotivated and worn out , been traveling non stop for 18 months and think I was just the weather change and the what are my next goals. Thouggts

I've been my wife's primary care giver for the past five years. I can relate to where you're at so well. Thankfully, she has made some real progress this past year or so and it doesn't take everything that I have anymore. She actually takes care of herself now and is even driving again.

But I'm also a member of a powerlifting team here and have three scheduled training sessions every week. The gym I train at is by appointment only but the owners gave me a green light to come train whenever I needed to because it helped my mental state so much. It hurt my regular training because I didn't get the recovery time that I needed, but it kept me from thinking of doing anything drastic when I reached the point of despair. So that was a trade off I was willing to make.

Depression is very real and can be very scary. Get help if you need to. I would also encourage you not to drink when in a bad place. That's something that often doesn't end well. Maybe join a gym if you don't already have a membership. Even take up running or riding a bicycle. Any form of exercise always helps me when I feel it creeping in.

Oh, I went to the doctor a few years ago when it happened the first time. I just felt completely overwhelmed. He put me on antidepressants, which is what they know to do. I didn't have good luck with any that we tried. They all seemed to have side effects that I didn't care for. But they do work for many. That's another option.

But I would encourage you to talk about it, which it appears that you are doing. We, as men like to think we can just "walk it off". That's what we're told as boys. Quite often that isn't going to work when dealing with depression. I wish you luck in dealing with this. I hope things get better for you soon.

Quote: Wizardofnothing

I literally have not gotten out of bed all day....

I used to get this feeling a lot.

I was grossly dissatisfied with my job (IT). Too much meaningless hassle, too many worthless meetings, too much fear of getting outsourced.

I have since quit (narrowly missed the outsourcing), gotten retrained in an entirely new line of work, and am feeling a whole lot better about life, the universe, and all that.


Almost every time I have gotten "in a funk", it's been work related. Stress overload and job dissatisfaction. The times when personal relationships have brought me down, it has spurred me to engage more fully at work.

Otherwise... probably 25 years ago, a friend saw I was headed into a funk. He said I should eat a banana. Heck if it didn't work, and I don't even like bananas.

I don't know if this pertains to your situation.

In my 40's, I relived an incident that happened when I was 11. I wasn't the victim. I was the witness. I also relived my brother's death 20 years prior. The brain let's out memories for multiple reasons. I think we all carry stuff suppressed.